Chapter 2

Eventually, the prison guard standing at the gate couldn't bear to watch any longer. He came over and patted me on the shoulder.

"You should head back. There's a bus over there that will take you into the city. Here, take this money.

"Live a good life and stay out of trouble from now on," he said, handing me two dollars.

I looked over at him. I remembered that he was the one who had escorted me to my cell. When he learned what I had been imprisoned for, he had berated me.

Yet, he was the one giving a helping hand.

With a frown, I took the money and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I didn't hurt anyone. I'm innocent. I will bring the real culprit to justice," I said with determination.

After that, I walked away without looking back, disappearing into the snowstorm.

…

As I sat on the bus, I felt a faint warmth around me as I got lost in thought.

Three years ago, I had finally finished the task my supervisor had assigned me and was ready to take a break.

Not wanting to disturb my roommates, I even rented a private gaming room outside and spent the whole night gaming.

Yet, after barely two hours of sleep, the police kicked down my door and arrested me on suspicion of assaulting a woman.

"Where were you at 1:00 am last night? What were you doing? Is there anyone who can verify that?"

As the police questioned me, I forced myself to stay composed. I knew I couldn't have done anything like that.

After all, I had spent the entire night playing games.

"I rented the room at 9:00 pm and stayed there playing games the entire time. Eventually, I got tired and fell asleep. Then, you guys woke me up.

"As for my whereabouts, the hotel should have security footage. I never left the room. My gaming account has a log too. I can log in and prove it," I answered honestly.

I thought the police would clear my name as soon as they checked. Instead, their expressions shifted. Without saying a word, they left me alone in the interrogation room.

I began to panic a little. I had a feeling things weren't as simple as I had thought. I didn't know how much time had passed before the interrogation room door finally opened.

Mom walked in with a grim expression. She then threw a stack of documents into my face. "Louis, I really raised you for nothing! How dare you assault a female student! I'm so disappointed in you!"

I insisted I hadn't done it, but the evidence in the documents was disturbingly thorough.

Every piece of evidence, including security footage from the hallway, a gaming account I could no longer log into, and even DNA evidence from the investigation, pointed to me.

No one would listen to my explanation, and no one was willing to defend me.

"You may be my son, but I can't bend the rules to shield you! What you did to that woman was against the law.

"The least I can do is send you away for a few years and let you learn your lesson." Mom said those words in court with conviction.

Her eyes were red, but she remained firm in her decision to send me away.

This went viral online, and I became the target of public outrage. My parents were loving and successful, yet somehow, they had ended up with a son like me.

"So, you're the criminal whose mother turned in for the sake of justice? You disgust me! I can't believe you still get to go to university. What a waste!"

"There are so many things you could do, and you did something like that to that woman! You're a disgrace to men everywhere."

"I heard the woman was an only child. Her parents have spoiled her since she was little. And then, something like this happened to her. Her life was ruined by that scumbag."

The prison guards' voices echoed in my ears, and everyone looked at me with hatred.

In prison, those accused of crimes like mine were often at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

They were ostracized, beaten, and verbally abused. I had wounds that never healed, and I never had enough to eat.

For the past three years, I had gone through hell.

"You have arrived at Dawnridge Street."

The bus announcement pulled me out of my thoughts. I stood up, got off the bus, and walked for god knew how long before finally stopping. I looked up and saw the sign, "Prescott Law Firm."

I walked into the lobby and said to the receptionist, "I'd like to see Shiloh Prescott. Tell him I have a major case that can bring down Fiona Kensington."

I thought, "Fiona, since you refuse to show me mercy, don't blame me for what will happen next."